Re:Verse passage – Nehemiah 10:28-30 (day two) are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law…v. 29a
It is not difficult to misuse this passage of scripture. At first glance there is a distinct xenophobic directive given. They were to separate from foreigners, and not associate in any way with outsiders. Taken straight out of context this gives the impression that one people group is better than another. God is speaking directly to his people, in our modern context his people is not a nationality, a bordered identity, or a racial identifier. God’s people are marked with the blood of Jesus, and as such, are together redeemed. Nehemiah is reminding the people that to associate with the Lord is to take on the yoke of the law. It is a ponderous burden, and it is difficult to keep, but it is the responsibility of the people of Moses. They could not be of two minds. If they followed the rest of the world, they were of the world. If they were to follow the Lord, they were to keep the Law. Our modern reading has nothing to do with foreigners, and everything to do with grace. May our obedience to Jesus be marked by his mercy and grace toward us all.
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